Sometimes you need to
find the point that is exactly between two other points. For instance,
you might need to find a line that bisects (divides into equal halves)
a given line segment. This middle point is called the "midpoint".
The concept doesn't come up often, but the Formula is quite simple and
obvious, so you should easily be able to remember it for later.

Think about it this way:
If you are given two numbers, you can find the number exactly between
them by averaging them, by adding them together and dividing by two. For
example, the number exactly halfway between 5
and 10
is[5 + 10]/2 = 15/2
= 7.5.

The Midpoint Formula works
exactly the same way. If you need to find the point that is exactly halfway
between two given points, just average the x-values
and the y-values.

Find the midpoint
between (–1,
2) and (3,
–6).

Apply the Midpoint Formula:

So the answer is P
= (1, –2).

Technically, the Midpoint
Formula is the following:

But as long as you remember
that you're averaging the two points' x-
and y-values,
you'll do fine. It won't matter which point you pick to be the "first"
point you plug in.

Find the midpoint
between
(6.4, 3) and (–10.7,
4).

Apply the Midpoint Formula:

So the answer is P
= (–2.15, 3.5)

Find the value of
p
so that (–2,
2.5) is the midpoint
between (p,
2) and (–1,
3).